SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Upon the passage of the Patient and Provider Protection Act by the Illinois House of Representatives, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, released the following statement:

“Illinois is a state where everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, is welcome to access the health care they need to live as their truest selves. Today, the Illinois House of Representatives reaffirmed that truth by passing the Patient and Provider Protection Act. Among other provisions, this legislation strengthens and expands reproductive freedoms and access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care.

“Abortion, contraception, PrEP and PEP medication and gender-affirming care are all forms of healthcare — often life-changing and lifesaving health care. By expanding access to these resources, vulnerable Illinoisans will receive the care they need to live happy and healthy lives. I urge the Senate to take up this bill to positively benefit all Illinoisans and help our state maintain its stature as a leader in reproductive freedoms and inclusive health care.”

CHICAGO, Ill. — As a long-time advocate for gun safety reform, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, participated in a hearing of the proposed assault weapons ban by the Judiciary – Criminal committee.

“Gun violence is a complex issue, and we cannot properly address it without hearing the input and experiences of survivors, the families of victims, health care professionals, and other stakeholders,” Hirschauer said. “Today we heard the stories of so many brave individuals who have lived through unspeakable tragedy. Their courage and honesty cannot be understated and will continually inspire my work to reduce gun violence and pass a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines.”

Hirschauer is a chief co-sponsor of House Bill 5855, also known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act. The proposal would ban assault weapons, large capacity magazines, and rapid-fire devices, strengthen firearm restraining order laws and hold gun manufacturers accountable for marketing firearms products using deceptive marketing tactics. The committee also passed House Joint Resolution 97, which mourns the lives lost in the Fourth of July shooting in Highland Park.

“Illinoisans have experienced too much gun violence, with impacts that go beyond the devastating loss of life or physical injury. Lingering trauma, from Chicago to East St. Louis to Aurora, destroys us from within. To force our constituents to endure these effects is negligent and reprehensible,” said Hirschauer. “Now is the time for Illinois’ leaders to set aside their differences and take concrete action to ban assault weapons and reduce the plague of gun violence that has been ravaging our communities.”

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — A bipartisan plan backed by state Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, to reduce Illinois’ unemployment insurance loan debt and invest in the state’s rainy day fund was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday.

“The COVID-19 pandemic brought us unprecedented challenges, and this proposal provides a solution to the financial problems our state has faced,” Hirschauer said. “This legislation is an incredible step toward strengthening the financial outlook of our state while supporting workers and saving businesses millions of dollars.”

Hirschauer supported Senate Bill 1698 which bolsters the health of the Unemployment Trust Fund by increasing the Target Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund balance and Taxable Wage Base, and outlines a $450 million interest free loan to Illinois’ Unemployment Trust Fund. Money paid back from the loan will be directed toward the state’s rainy-day fund. The bill also moves statutory hurdles that would have automatically raised taxes on employers and cut benefits for claimants. Payment of the remaining unemployment insurance loan debt and the $450 million loan are expected to be appropriated through a separate action in January 2023.

“This bill is a result of weeks of negotiations among legislators from both sides of the aisle, as well as business and labor groups. I am thankful for their hard work and willingness to set aside their differences for the good of the state,” Hirschauer said. “This proposal is a great step in the right financial direction, and I will continue to support legislation that protects the working families in our community.”

Senate Bill 1698 passed the Illinois General Assembly with bipartisan support. For more information on Hirschauer’s legislative agenda, please visit www.ilga.gov.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — To heighten the safety of communities across the state and boost equity within the criminal justice system, state Rep. Maura Hirschauer supported comprehensive legislation to improve the SAFE-T Act and address partisan misconceptions.

“These refinements and enhancements will help transform our state’s criminal justice system while ensuring the safety and protection of those we hold dear,” Hirschauer said. “After extensive negotiation among stakeholders of different backgrounds, including both Kane and DuPage county state’s attorneys, we’ve come forth with thoughtful, sensible policy solutions that will make Illinois a more secure and just state for all who live here.”

Hirschauer supported House Bill 1095, which incorporates hundreds of hours of negotiation and feedback from law enforcement, prosecutors, public safety advocates, survivors, and other relevant stakeholders. It addresses good-faith critiques of the SAFE-T Act and corrects misconceptions to ensure a safe and successful implementation.

Specifically, as initially intended in the underlying SAFE-T Act, House Bill 1095 further clarifies that a person who poses a risk to public safety can be detained. This includes crimes such as arson, kidnapping, robbery and other serious offenses that have been incorrectly suggested as no longer being detainable. House Bill 1095 underscores that non-probationable felonies, forcible felonies, hate crimes and other serious crimes – such as aggravated DUI causing great bodily harm – are detainable by a judge.

To address incorrect concerns that all violent offenders will be released Jan. 1, 2023, House Bill 1095 lays out a clear transition process for courts and law enforcement to avoid misinterpretation of the law:

• Anyone charged on or after Jan. 1 will be entered into the new system;
• Anyone charged before Jan. 1 stays in the current system, but the state or defendant have the option to move the case to the new system;
• The motion schedule will prioritize low level non-violent offenders;
• Those defendants who are charged with low level non-violent crimes must receive their offense hearings within seven days;
• Those who are requesting to be entered into the new system but could be considered a flight risk will have an offense hearing within 60 days and those who are considered a threat to public safety will have a hearing within 90 days. A judge will have discretion on whether these individuals will be released pre-trial.

House Bill 1095 further clarifies and makes consistent all language pertaining to what prosecutors must show to detain an individual, which is that the person poses a real and present threat to any person or the community, based on specific articulable facts of the case.

Of note, House Bill 1095 addresses concerns about the enforcement of trespassing to ensure that a trespasser can be cited – and then arrested – if they refuse to leave.

Language is also updated to clarify what is considered as “willful flight.” It defines “willful flight” as intentionally avoiding prosecution and notes that patterns of nonappearance or a lack of steps to address nonappearance can be considered as factors in determining willful flight.

Updated language clarifies court authority in setting conditions for electronic monitoring, and removes language that would have made escape chargeable only after 48 hours.

Additionally, the measure creates a state grant program for increasing public defenders to handle an expected increase in caseloads, further clarifies remote hearing rules, further explains bench warrant processes and allows for good reason delays to be excluded from a speedy trial clock. It also allows for the state and defendant to appeal all court decisions related to pretrial release and clarifies that the public defender handling the detention hearing also handles the appeal.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, is encouraging all nonbinary and female-identifying young people in Illinois to apply for the Illinois Council on Women and Girls’ Girls Committee.

“The voices of our young people are powerful drivers of change, and the Girls Committee gives young women the chance to have their voices heard,” Hirschauer said. “This is the perfect opportunity for civic-minded youth to learn about government and policy while making positive change in their communities.”

The Illinois Council on Women and Girls, chaired by Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton, advises Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the General Assembly on policy issues affecting women and girls statewide. Committee members will have the opportunity to share their experiences and learn from other Council committees to make Illinois a better place for women and girls. All high school-aged female-identifying and nonbinary students are encouraged to apply.”

“When we give young women a seat at the table, we create more representative and inclusive policy decisions,” Hirschauer said. “I invite all young women and nonbinary students who are interested in government and policy to apply for this opportunity.”

Applications for the committee are due Oct. 23 and require a video submission as response to one of the questions. Applications can be submitted at https://isbe.submittable.com/submit/236836. For more information, contact Council member Jackie Matthews at jmatthew@isbe.net or 312-590-4327.

WEST CHICAGO, Ill. — State Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, will help lead an effort to review and improve the training programs of community health workers as a part of the newly established Community Health Workers Review Board.

“Community health workers play an essential role in maintaining and improving the wellbeing of our families and communities at large,” Hirschauer said. “We must ensure they have access to the most effective and efficient training and certification processes so that they can continue to provide high quality health care for those who need it.”

The Community Health Workers Review Board is tasked with advising the Illinois Department of Health as they develop an Illinois Community Health Worker Certification Program. The board will recommend standards, review proposed regulations and provide feedback about training programs and reimbursement schedules. The board will also provide an annual report to the Office of the Governor and the General Assembly about the progress of the program.

“Everyone benefits when community health workers have the tools and certification they need to perform to the best of their ability,” Hirschauer said. “I am honored to have been appointed to the Community Health Workers Review Board and I am eager to collaborate with my colleagues and stakeholders to improve health care training and regulations.”

For more information, please contact Hirschauer’s office at office@repmaura49.com or 331-465-9661